2023 Toyota Highlander vs Kia Telluride | SUV Comparison

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Stephanie Wallcraft: The automotive industry never stops moving. Just when you think you’ve got everything figured out, an automaker updates a vehicle and throws the rankings within a given segment back into question. For 2023, that applies particularly well to mid-size three-row SUVs, where new products are being introduced this year and a swath of vehicles are receiving refreshes.

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We have two of those refreshed vehicles here: the 2023 Kia Telluride and 2023 Toyota Highlander. Both of these have been featured in SUV comparisons before here at Driving.ca, and we even put them head-to-head back in 2020. But with both of these three-row SUVs receiving styling and technology updates for this model year, it’s time to bring them back into the spotlight and see how their changes stack up.

In Toyota’s corner we have the 2023 Highlander, which receives a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine in its gas version along with the brand’s latest infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base pricing starts with the LE grade at $49,934.20, including a destination charge of $1,930, while our tester is kitted out in the sportier Highlander XSE with an as-tested price of $52,703.20 including fees. Note that no one is claiming that the Highlander XSE is sporty, full stop: it’s still a three-row SUV and demands managed expectations, but it does include a more tightly tuned suspension, a wow-inducing red interior that pops, and 20-inch black alloy wheels that contribute to an edgier look. For those who prioritize fuel efficiency over all else, the Highlander continues to be offered in a hybrid version, a rarity in this segment.

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On the Kia side, the 2023 Telluride now comes in two new grades. The new top of the line is the X-Pro, priced at $65,733 including a destination charge of $2,549 (which, it must be said, is edging into luxury car territory), and it comes with some light off-roading upgrades like 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires and an upgraded maximum towing capacity of 5,500 pounds. The version we drove, the X-Line, sits just below the X-Pro in the line-up and is also new this year. It shares a 10-millimetre ground clearance increase and a tow mode with the X-Pro and also has embossed logos on the front seats, high-gloss black bridge roof rails, and other dark accents for an as-tested price of $63,145. In most grades, the Telluride now comes with a twin pair of 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. Even if you opt for the base EX that’s priced at $53,133, you’ll get a wireless phone charger, built-in navigation, and added standard safety features such as automatic high beams, forward collision assist with junction turning collision avoidance, and intelligent speed limit assist.

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Clayton, while acknowledging that we’re not comparing apples to apples — our Highlander is priced at $52,703 and our Telluride at $63,145 — let’s start by looking at the powertrains since Toyota’s new engine is the biggest news here.

Clayton Seams: Under the hood of our two similarly-sized, three-rows you’ll find two very different providers of propulsion. Toyota’s familiar V6 is nowhere to be found in the Highlander; for 2023 it’s been replaced with a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder. The new (and smaller) turbo engine makes 265 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the outgoing V6 this is 30 less hp and 45 more lb-ft of torque. In this configuration it’s good for 11.8 L/100 km city and 8.6 highway.

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Under the square and better looking hood of the Telluride, you’ll find a 3.8L V6 without a turbo in sight. It makes 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. You can expect it to return 12.8 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 on the highway.

But no matter which one you’re driving, matting the gas pedal in either will send you forward with more than enough pace for any situation. These SUVs may be large but they’re also pretty lively! The Kia is admittedly, the better driving of the two. It has a sharper transmission than the Toyota and the ride is a little more controlled. By comparison, the sportiest thing on the Toyota is the XSE badge and the slushy eight-speed automatic transmission is slow and soggy. It gets the job done with all the zest and flair of oatmeal. That said, the Toyota manages to be better on fuel in city and highway driving. But what really sets these two SUVs apart are the interiors.

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The Highlander features USB-A and USB-C charge ports as well as wireless phone charging. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both present. The touchscreen is outdated and tiny but the new Toyota OS on it is a major leap forward from the previous system which I believe was licensed from Atari. The backup camera has all the resolution of a Russian dash-cam video on LiveLeak although 360-degree cameras are available on other trim levels.

Meanwhile, the Telluride has a nice large touchscreen but what it does not have is wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. What is the point of being able to charge my phone without a cord if I can’t also project that phone without a cord? Silliness. We’ve commented on the sleek, attractive, and useable nature of Kia’s infotainment before and it’s the same here. We just hope you like the colour purple because there’s a lot of it in the Kia’s menus and icons. But moving beyond the dashboards there is still plenty to chat about.

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SW: One point worth noting on the Kia Telluride is that while it does have the twin screens that are becoming a Kia signature, there’s a lower screen on other newer Kias such as the EV6 and Sportage that toggles between climate and infotainment controls. In those vehicles, it can be a bit confusing to figure out which mode it’s in, even though you can configure it to default to one set of controls or the other after a few seconds, and it can be distracting when you think you’re adjusting the temperature and instead crank the volume on your music by mistake. Since the Telluride has undergone a refresh and not a full redesign, that panel hasn’t yet made it onto this dashboard. Instead, old-school buttons and dials still rule here. If that’s a bonus to you, grab it while you still can.

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In the second row, there are two slightly different configurations. Both have captain’s chairs — and points to Toyota for making them available at this lower trim level because not every automaker does — but the Telluride’s second-row cupholders are on the back of the front row centre console, while the Highlander has a pair of floor-mounted cupholders between the seats. It’s too bad neither of these vehicles integrates cupholders into the door armrests because that’s the ideal position for young kids in car seats, but among what we have to work with here, those kids will have an easier time with the Highlander’s setup.

Speaking of car seats, both the Telluride and Highlander make access to the third row easy with a push-button retraction setup for the second-row captain’s chairs. Unfortunately, neither vehicle allows for these second-row seats to be moved out of the way while a car seat remains in place. The smaller occupants who are likely to be sent to the rear can probably scurry through between the captain’s chairs, but they’re likely to dirty stuff up with their winter boots while doing so.

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And while kids will likely fare well back there in either case, don’t try to send teens or adults back there in the Highlander. The rear floor here is shared between the gas-powered and hybrid Highlander, and that means it’s lifted to make space for the hybrid’s battery. The result is a cushion that’s too close to the floor and that bring knees unusually close to chins. Between the Telluride’s more ample space all around, large panoramic sunroof, and standard third-row USB ports, its rearmost positions are a more pleasant place to be. But one supposes these complaints about the Highlander are why the Grand Highlander exists. Time will soon tell on that one.

CS: And now it comes time to pick a winner! To do that I think we need to recoup the wins and losses for both. The Kia leads with a strong foot. It has the more handsome exterior styling, the interior is best-in-segment, the driving experience is more lively, and the in-dash screen is larger and easier to use. That said, the Toyota has plenty going for it. The Highlander has a lower base price than the Telluride, it gets better fuel economy, the second row is better for small children, and it has an available hybrid version for those wishing to save on fuel.

Both of these three-rows are perfectly adept at handling the busy family week but when it comes to picking a winner, I think the Telluride is clearly out in front. We found it just as practical as the Highlander but much more inviting and exciting. Man cannot exist on bread alone… or something. And for that reason we are naming the Kia Telluride the winner of this Driving.ca comparison. Let us know in the comments what SUVs we should compare next!

Check out the latest Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander models.